Safety Tip of the Week – Ergonomic Safety

Nearly every type of work or occupation has the potential for causing work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). To prevent these injuries, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to them. Ergonomic factors are workplace conditions that pose the risk of injury to the musculoskeletal system of the worker

Factors that Contribute to the Development of WMSDs Include:

Force – the strength to perform a task;

Repetition – the frequency or number of times a task is performed during a shift;

Posture – positioning of the body to perform a task;

Vibration – this might come from overuse of power hand tools;

Temperature – extreme temperatures are more harmful to the body;

Duration – the amount of time in a workday spent performing work tasks; and